WB government writes to EC urging it to reconsider transfer order

Kolkata: A day after the Election Commission directed the removal of eight officials from poll duty in West Bengal prompting an enraged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to threaten to defy the order, the state government on Tuesday requested the poll panel to reconsider its decision.

"Yes, the Chief Secretary has written to the Commission urging it to reconsider its decision regarding removal of the officers,” a highly placed source said.

He said the Chief Secretary has in his letter also pointed out that the transfers were made and their replacements in the vacancies were done without consulting the state government.

The Election Commission had on Monday ordered removal of five SPs, a District Magistrate and two ADMs following complaints against them.

It had also named the officers, who are to replace the incumbent SPs, the DM and ADMs.

Addressing an election rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Monday taken serious exception to the transfers and said she was not going to accept the order.

“I will not remove a single officer. Let the Commission do it. The transfers were made without consulting the state government. I heard that the five SPs have been given transfer orders. Without even asking the state, the (new) names have also been decided,” she had said.